- Also Known As:
- Unknown
- Year:
- 2009
- Country:
- Predominant Genre:
- Fantasy
- Directors:
- Outstanding Performances:
- None
- Premiss:
- A town where food falls from the sky like rain.
- Themes:
- Emotional repression | Family | Identity | Narcissism | Personal change |
Self-belief |Self-expression | Solipsism | White culture - Similar (in Plot, Theme or Style) to:
- Review Format:
- DVD
Yet another tail-wagging-the-dog CGI animation that is, nevertheless, rather good fun.
Because the technical wizardry is what this film is really all about, dramatic gimmicks are used to tell a story of inexpressive fathers and overcompensating sons. These issues are not resolved by emotional means, but by technology acting as a kind of deus ex machina.
The plotting is unintegrated into the drama and is simply designed to show off the special effects, as well as the superficial contrast between affectionate and emotionally-expressive parents and those who bottle-up their emotions - if indeed the latter possess any positive ones to begin with. Basic family issues remain totally unexplored because of the poor characterization; leading to the inevitable conclusion that strong, silent types remain silent for a reason: They have little to say. Much like the film itself.
Nevertheless, the movie is genuinely funny - with puns that children will love - as it focuses on the kinds of foods children want most: Chocolate, jelly, ice cream, cheeseburgers, etc. This Charlie & the Chocolate Factory sensibility is accompanied by the visual warning that if you eat too much you will either get fat, sick or both – much like the affect of watching too many movies like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment